’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ First Reactions Hail Horror Sequel as “The Movie of the Year” (Already!?)
We’re barely into January, but it sounds like we could already have our movie of the year. Reactions to next week’s post-apocalyptic horror sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, have begun flooding in, and it sounds like the zombie franchise will once again deliver something truly unique.
“Idc that 2026 just started Bone Temple is my movie of the year!” gushes X/Twitter user @ragingmotelfire. “Nia DaCosta is a brilliant director and proves why Danny Boyle handpicked her to direct! Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes put in some career-best performances & I couldn’t be prouder! I can’t wait to watch it again!” The praise continues courtesy of Collider’s Ross Bonaime, who highlights the equally “tremendous” and “terrifying” work from Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell.
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is incredible. Really explores the idea of humanity in a world gone to hell in stunning fashion while also delving into the virus itself. Ralph Fiennes is tremendous. Jack O’Connell terrifying. I was grinning like an idiot for the last 20 minutes.”
“The First Summer Blockbuster Arrived in January”
Miya Mizuno / © Columbia Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection
Further reactions call 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple “The first summer blockbuster arrived in January,” “the darkest of the series,” “Bold. Bombastic. Brazen,” “one of the best horror sequels of the century,” with Jack O’Connell delivering “an even more reprehensible villain than the one he portrayed in Sinners without having the excuse of being a vampire this time.” Lastly, @BrandonDavisBD praises director Nia DaCosta, who takes over from Danny Boyle, before calling The Bone Temple “more in line” with the first outing, 2002’s 28 Days Later, than last year’s long-awaited return.
I watched 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and it is REALLY GOOD.
Nia DaCosta does a phenomenal job honoring the gritty 28 horrors. O’Connell is haunting & darkly funny. Ruthless & violent, especially early before heart creeps in.
This felt more in line with Days than Years did.
Directed by Nia DaCosta, written by Alex Garland, and starring Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is due to debut in theaters on 16 January 2026, with a third and final outing already in development. You can check out the official synopsis for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple below…
Expanding upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in 28 Years Later — but turning that world on its head — Nia DaCosta directs 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. In a continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship — with consequences that could change the world as they know it — and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival — the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.
Release Date
January 16, 2026
Director
Nia DaCosta
